Ami Trost and husband Kevin Morgan, owners of Downingtown’s Blue Moon Florist, credit the installation of solar panels for bringing their shop increased interest and foot-traffic because of curious passersby.

That benefit was completely unexpected when they decided to go with the alternative energy source.

“We’ve had a lot of people come into the store and ask us about the solar system,” Morgan said. “It’s kind of turned into a marketing (opportunity) for us.”

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The couple has been in business for 19 years, but it wasn’t until 16 months ago that they decided to go solar. For Trost, solar energy has been a longtime obsession, and installing the panels helped her live out a childhood dream.

When she was about 9 years old, Trost’s neighbors installed solar paneling at their house, and she was completely fascinated by it. Trost said she remembers thinking, “Why isn’t everyone doing this?”

The couple, who decided to use Berwyn-based GreenPointe.Energy to install the panels, went solar because of its cost effectiveness and its positive impact on the environment.

“The zero-carbon imprint really drove us to make the decision,” Trost said. “There were so many more pros than cons in the decision-making process.”

The highest the couple has paid for the shop’s electric bill since installing the solar panels has been $85. Previously, they had paid $750 to $850 a month. Although the couple believes it will take seven to 12 years to recoup their investment, Trost said if they ever decide to sell the business, the low electricity costs add increased value to the real estate.

As a family that prides itself on regularly using the three R’s — reduce, reuse and recycle – Trost, Morgan, and their son are happy to add more green behavior to their lives. At home they do their best to conserve energy, and they wanted to be able to do the same for their business, but on a bigger scale.

Trost still finds it amazing that it is possible to harness the sun’s energy and turn it into electricity. She and Morgan want to know they are leaving a better world for the future, and using solar energy has given them that confidence.

Looking ahead, Trost and Morgan hope to eventually use only electric-powered vans to deliver their floral arrangements. They hope to make that happen within the next five years.

Trost and Morgan say they can’t stress enough how positive their experience with solar energy has been.

“Any business that wants to save money and enhance real estate value at the same time should definitely look into solar energy as a possibility,” Trost said.

Meanwhile, the fascination Trost had as a child in the 1970’s, with the gleaming silver panels in her neighbor’s backyard, is finally a reality.